]]>Australia has some truly awe-inspiring pieces of architectural magnificence. Whether your taste runs towards Victorian-style buildings, with their intricate details, painstaking workmanship and attention to detail, or towards more contemporary designs, with their clean lines, abstract designs and minimalist styles, Australia has something to offer for everyone.

We asked Melbourne-based architects, DX Architects, for their take on some of the finest, most iconic buildings throughout Australia.

1. Sydney Opera House

Let’s start the list with the most recognisable Australian architectural icon—the Sydney Opera House. It is, without a doubt, Australia’s most famous landmark. In 1956, an international competition was held for a chance to design an opera house for Sydney. From over 200 entries, Jørn Utzon, a Danish architect was picked as the winner. Work began in 1964, and the Sydney Opera House was ready for opening in 1973.

It is estimated that around eight million people visit the opera house annually. With its futuristic design and great location, the Sydney opera house is one of the most famous buildings in the world and continues to inspire architects. Whether you’re an architecture enthusiast or a layman with little to no knowledge of architecture, the Sydney Opera House will impress you either way.

2. Port Arthur

If you want to look at a piece of Australian history, then Port Arthur is the site for you. This World Heritage site served as a penal colony from 1833 to 1853. It was used to hold some of the most dangerous criminals and was touted to be a prison that was impossible to escape. A visit to the site will take you back in time, to a time when the British penal system was moving from physical punishment to more psychological punishments to encourage good behaviour amongst the convicts.

The site has been conserved, and measures were taken over the years to preserve this iconic landmark. The Port Arthur Penal colony holds a lot of historical significance and is one of the most well preserved penal colonies in Australia. It is also the most famous tourist attraction in Tasmania.

3. Q1 Tower

The Q1 tower is a skyscraper located on Gold coast, Queensland. It is the tallest building in Australia, with a height of 322 meters and boasts of seventy-eight floors. Designed by the SDG & The Buchan Group, it is said that the Q1 tower’s design was influenced by the Sydney 2000 Olympic torch as well as the Sydney Opera House. It won silver in the 2005 Emporis Skyscraper Award ( the Turning Torso won the gold in Sweden). The design is said to reflect the movement of, represented by a series of aluminium ribbons that wrap around the tower.

4. Cape Byron Lighthouse

When you think of Australia, one of the first things that come to mind are its beautiful beaches. Australia is known as a surfer’s paradise, and rightly so, what with its many sunny beaches. Byron Bay is one such beautiful surfer’s destination.

Standing on the rocky land, the Cape Byron Lighthouse is one of the last Victorian era lighthouses that remain standing. It is worth noting that Cape Byron Lighthouse is Australia’s most powerful lighthouse.

5. Parliament House

Another piece of iconic architecture is the Australian Parliament House, located in Canberra. The structural design is reflective of the native Australian heritage, in the shape of two boomerangs. Being open to the public, the parliament building attracts over one million visitors every year.

6. Australia Square

Quite contrary to its name, the Australia Square is a building with a circular form and modern architectural design. It was designed by Harry Seidler, a world-renowned Australian architect. The building has a large public open space on ground level, narrow tapered columns on the outside that adds emphasis to its tall structure, and world-class artwork. No wonder then, that Australia Square remains to be one of the most iconic buildings in Sydney and has set the standard for excellence when it comes to commercial buildings.

7. Shine Dome

Apart from the Parliament House, Canberra has another architectural wonder to boast of—the shining dome. Designed by the famous architect Sir Roy Grounds for the Australian Academy of Science, the Shine Dome’s design was supposed to reflect the nature of science: innovative, inquisitive and forever in pursuit of answers. The Shine Dome was the first building in Canberra to be added to the National Heritage List, as a result of both its architectural and historical significance. When it was built in 1959, the dome was a piece of modern architecture with a futuristic look and feel to it. It still manages to inspire architects and holds a place of importance as one of Australia’s most iconic buildings.

8. Sidney Myers Music Bowl

Although not a building, strictly speaking, the Sidney Myer Music Bowl is an outdoor venue that holds a lot of architectural, technological and cultural significance. Listed on the Victorian Heritage Register, the Sidney Myer Music Bowl opened in 1959. It was designed by Yuncken Freeman and Griffiths and Simpson, and the architect was Barry Patten. With its complicated design structure, built using cobwebbed steel cables and weather-proof plywood, construction required consultation with organisations such as the CSIRO Forest Products Division and the Aeronautical Research Laboratories. The shell has been designed to be acoustically favourable. The Sidney Myer Music Bowl has been the venue for the performance by some artists, bands and entertainers over the years.
With its pristine beaches, hidden waterfalls and exotic wildlife, Australia is a haven for nature lovers. But there’s another face to this land that is just as beautiful, but humanmade. And that is Australia’s architecture. Australia has produced many world-class architects over the years, people who have been inspired by what they see around them. From the Opera House to the Shine Dome, Australia has a lot to offer by way of architectural masterpieces. You can journey through the country, marvelling at not only its natural beauty but also at its concrete pieces of modern art. Australia is one of the world’s leaders when it comes to innovative and sometimes experimental architecture.

]]>https://www.masterstone.com.au/australias-best-architectural-wonders/feed/0Can your small kitchen be renovated to bring the new era look?https://www.masterstone.com.au/can-small-kitchen-renovated-bring-new-era-look/
https://www.masterstone.com.au/can-small-kitchen-renovated-bring-new-era-look/#respondTue, 17 Oct 2017 23:00:48 +0000https://www.masterstone.com.au/?p=16In modern times, kitchens and baths have to occupy the centre stage of any home. Kitchens, in particular, are no more huddled into a corner with little or no breathing space or room to veer around. To be very honest, if you are expecting to renovate your small kitchen to give it the appearance of […]

]]>In modern times, kitchens and baths have to occupy the centre stage of any home. Kitchens, in particular, are no more huddled into a corner with little or no breathing space or room to veer around. To be very honest, if you are expecting to renovate your small kitchen to give it the appearance of a second living space with all the gadgets and show pieces around, you will be constrained by the space available to do that.But, there are several ways to bring in functional aspects, that can make your kitchen significantly more pleasing to look at and functionally superior. By now, you have already imagined that a small kitchen cannot accommodate storage, homework, recipe hunting and similar things. Therefore, functionality should be the focus when you embark on a small kitchen renovation. The following tips are designed to help you in that direction.

Open cupboards make space brighten up

Open shelves are inviting for your family as well as visitors making everyone feel at home and gives the freedom to everyone to help themselves with what they need. No need to ask someone to find things or rummage through multiple cabinets since everything is in plain view. Dust accumulation can be a concern for some households, but when you come to think of it, cleaning it up once a fortnight should not consume more than 30 minutes.

Shelves are easier to organize too

Shelves offer great convenience since anyone can find anything with ease and things get back to where they belong without much ado. So keeping things organized is a lot easier.

Open shelving is significantly cheaper

Shelves are not just the perfect solution for your dated kitchen, but also pretty much economical, and you can get a feel of what it could look like for you here. Further, open shelving also creates interest in the given space while saving you a few hundred dollars too. Painted planks or salvaged wood from a neighbourhood hardware store should be a functional and cost-effective option where you can display everyday dishes. However, if you have fitted cabinets, you can resist the temptation to throw it out, since they can be gainfully deployed for storing and more so in a small kitchen with a lot of stuff you need to pack in.

Mixing and matching materials

The mixing matching game can be played in many different ways when it comes to kitchen renovation in particular. For instance, the island can sport a statement material while the countertops get a simpler surface. You can also contrast quartz against other materials like granite, marble or other designer kitchen tiles. The secret of achieving the vow factor in the mix and match game is using tones that relate and having strong contrasts so that the mismatch is beautiful and intentional. Choose materials with a variation or gain tones for use on the solid surface. You can also take help from the digital world to understand a set of design options before you decide to go shopping.

Use lighting to visually expand your kitchen

Thoughtful lighting can do wonders to your kitchen however small it may be. The trick is to plan things well, after examining different options with the help of the digital world. Following are some pointers to help you along:-

To see your countertop with ease, lighting under the cabinet is a great way. Though overheads lighting can also be a great idea, smaller and are specific approach can be the best way to enhance your kitchen and make working in it a lot easier. Try simple strips of LED lighting to appreciate the huge difference it can make.

Recessed lighting is another way to brighten the kitchen space because the light gets spread more evenly to give the effect of a well-lit kitchen. Since these lights inside a cavity in the ceiling, the lines are clean and there is no light hanging down with potential hazards.

Accent lighting similarly can deliver a big impact. You can deploy them to enhance/display artwork, special dishes sitting in a glass cabinet or other areas where you think some extra lighting can bring that dramatic effect.

Tones/colours of lighting – Choosing different tones/colours for the kitchen lighting is another way to create a more comfortable, and intimate setting.

Focus on the flooring

Proper selection of flooring is a vital decision in kitchen renovation. Most homeowners tend to make the mistake of not giving due importance to this aspect. The impact of the most appropriate flooring for your kitchen can be significant in the overall makeover that you get. There is no dearth of options for you and can include vinyl, hardwood, laminate, tile or linoleum. The environment in which you live in is a major driver in choosing the flooring material, and your lifestyle will also have an impact. Spending quality time, exploring multiple options through the digital world will give you amazing ideas. Lately, laminated flooring for the kitchen has also risen in popularity. The picture of a wood grain, stone or other surface is laminated directly on the flooring material chosen. This can be installed quickly and is considered pretty durable too.
An important factor to bear in mind while renovating a small kitchen is that size is never a constraint when it comes to converting your dreary looking kitchen into a spacious Kitchen that your family can enjoy every day and even be the envy of your guests. Thorough research, loads of creativity and perfect planning will ensure that your kitchen gets that awesome look that you have always been wanting.